Where is Santa currently? He's not too far away...
It's Christmas Eve, and as night falls, the familiar refrain of "When is Santa coming?" will echo throughout the house.
NORAD estimates he'll be in your airspace between 9 PM and midnight, but we know the rule… only if you’re asleep. If you’re curious about his current location, take a look at the resources we've been referring to all day to find out where the bearded, red-suited gift-bringer is at the moment.
What exactly is a Santa tracker? The answer is in the name – it’s either an app or a website that allows you to see where he is in the world right now, and – depending on the platform – you can watch a live feed of his activities, play games, read updates from his elves, or even listen to (and participate in) dedicated Christmas radio stations.
There are several Santa tracking apps available, but I’ve been following this sleigh-riding figure for nearly a decade now, and here are my top recommendations for the best insights into his location – plus entertaining ways to count down to his arrival at your home.
Google Santa Tracker
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Although it isn’t the longest-running tracker, it is among the most popular and the first choice for me and my kids. This is partly because it goes live early in the Christmas season, and also due to the great entertainment it offers to keep the whole family engaged when the anticipation of what Santa might bring becomes overwhelming.
There’s a charming video that shows how Santa prepared this year (spoiler alert – he overslept because his hat fell on the alarm clock and he only woke up at the last moment!) and you can enjoy numerous mini games, including simple ones you play by tilting your device and those that teach basic coding through the elves' magic. (However, one issue that remains unresolved over the years is that the website doesn’t function as well on iPads, with games like Wrap Battle not displaying the controls, and Gumball Drop not allowing tilting on the iPad).
The highlight is the map showing Santa's current location, featuring photos and local guides, selfies on beaches, and real-time updates on the number of presents delivered (demonstrating his magical abilities, as he manages to deliver hundreds of thousands in just seconds) – this is a fantastic starting point if you're simply looking to find out where he is.
Visit the official Google Santa Tracker website – he’s close to entering American airspace now.
NORAD
Image used with permission by copyright holder
NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – started tracking Santa decades ago due to an error made by a Colorado Springs newspaper on Christmas Eve in 1955. A hotline number intended for kids to call Santa was misprinted, instead giving the number for NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Aerospace Defense Command (CONAD).
Suddenly inundated with calls from excited children expecting to talk to Santa, the operators on the other end chose to play along, cheerfully providing updates on Santa’s location throughout Christmas Eve. This misprint turned into an annual tradition, and the advent of the internet opened up new possibilities for the service.
You can still call 1-877-HI-NORAD on Christmas Eve for updates on Santa’s whereabouts – there are friendly voices already waiting for your call.
You can access NORAD’s tracker online or through mobile apps for Android and iOS, and it can also be viewed via its website.
Santa Tracker 2025: live updates
Live Last updated December 24, 2025, 4:18 PM
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Where is Santa currently? He's not too far away...
It's Christmas Eve, and as the evening draws near, the question of 'When will Santa arrive?' will echo around the house. NORAD anticipates he will be in your airspace between 9 PM and midnight, but we all know the guideline… only if you're sound asleep. If you're curious about his current whereabouts, take a look at the resources we've been using […]